Chapter 726: Someone Sells Blessings

The island suspended in the mist within the Devouring Beast was quite large. It boasted beautiful mountains, scenic waters, pavilions, and towers, all perfectly arranged. Its scale was comparable to a small sect. If the Weimei Sect hadn't always restricted the number of people allowed to enter, this one Devouring Beast, Xiaosan, could have supported a small city on its own.

Zhou Xian led Ji Yuan's group, introducing them one by one to the scenic spots on the island. These locations often featured array formations that, when projected onto the surrounding mist, allowed them to view the outside scenery, including the mountains and land below, and the distant clouds and sunlight.

As they stepped onto the island, Zhou Xian had been carefully observing Ji Yuan, whose eyes were slightly closed. It wasn't just her; Ju Yuanzi, Lian Baiping, and others also kept some of their attention on Ji Yuan.

Ever since Mr. Ji boarded the Devouring Beast a while ago, he had seemed drowsy. Although he could walk and hear, he gave the distinct impression of being in a state of spiritual detachment.

“Esteemed seniors and fellow Daoists, there is a spiritual spring here that connects to Xiaosan's spiritual meridians. The spiritual energy in the spring water is exceptionally vibrant. It is excellent for brewing tea or refining magical elixirs, among other things. Ordinary people cannot approach it. If you wish to use it, please feel free to help yourselves.”

While everyone's attention was briefly focused on the small pool of water at Zhou Xian's feet, Ji Yuan opened his eyes.

“Mr. Ji, are you back with us?”

Lian Baiping quietly asked from the side. Ji Yuan nodded and smiled apologetically at the people around him and Zhou Xian.

“I dozed off for a bit. By the way, Daoist Zhou, where is my guest lodging? I've had some insights and need to go into seclusion to organize them.”

Zhou Xian's heart jolted, and she quickly replied, not daring to delay.

“Sir, just infuse spiritual energy into the ship pass jade pendant you were given; it will guide you. The array formations within are also controlled by this pendant.”

“Very well. Please continue without me. I apologize for my rudeness, but I must take my leave now!”

Ji Yuan bowed to those around him. Naturally, the others returned the gesture, saying, "By no means." After Ji Yuan turned and left, seemingly shrinking the ground with each step, everyone exchanged surprised glances.

Everyone present had a clear understanding of Mr. Ji's cultivation level. For a figure of his stature to suddenly have an epiphany and need to enter seclusion was certainly no small matter.

“Mr. Ji, has he comprehended some profound truth of the Heavenly Dao?” “Perhaps his divine abilities have advanced.”

Lian Baiping, curious yet worried, glanced at Ju Yuanzi, who was stroking his beard nearby, and said with a sigh of melancholy:

“It's certainly good that Mr. Ji has achieved enlightenment... but who knows when he will emerge from seclusion...”

Ju Yuanzi was also slightly taken aback. Considering it from the perspective of the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, he indeed found it quite problematic. For an immortal master like Mr. Ji, entering seclusion could mean a short nap lasting only a few days, or more likely, it could mean disappearing for years, even decades or centuries. A year or two wouldn't be so bad, but ten, eighty, or even hundreds of years would be difficult to manage.

However, Ju Yuanzi understood Ji Yuan better and offered Lian Baiping some reassurance.

“Fellow Daoist, there's no need to worry. Mr. Ji has his own sense of propriety and won't keep the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets waiting too long. From my understanding of Mr. Ji, he will surely emerge before the Devouring Beast reaches the vicinity of the Heavenly Secrets Grotto-Heaven. What I'm more curious about now is...”

“Why did Mr. Ji enter seclusion?”

“Indeed, I am equally curious!”

Zhou Xian also looked in the direction Ji Yuan had left. After regaining her composure, she saw that the remaining people seemed to have lost interest.

“Daoist Zhou, there's no need for further introductions. We'll make our way to our guest lodgings ourselves.”

“Very well, then I shall not bother you further. If any of you have needs, please inform the nearest Weimei Sect cultivator!”

“Understood, farewell!” “Farewell!”

Once Ji Yuan had departed, everyone began to speculate on the reason for his sudden departure, losing all interest in further sightseeing. Zhou Xian, equally distracted, was naturally glad to leave. The Weimei Sect never engaged in such formal pleasantries; it was only because the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets and Ji Yuan were so exceptionally important that they had shown such enthusiasm this time.

Lian Baiping's and Ju Yuanzi's guest lodgings were the closest to Ji Yuan's, almost directly to his left and right, less than twenty paces apart. When they returned together, Ji Yuan's lodging had not activated its seclusion array; instead, its courtyard gate was simply closed as usual. The two seemed to faintly detect the scent of ink, but they could not see inside the courtyard's main hall.

After exchanging glances, Lian Baiping and Ju Yuanzi decided not to disturb Ji Yuan. They bowed to each other and then each headed to their respective lodgings.

In a pavilion somewhere on the island, Jiang Xueling, who had been resting her head on a table, was listening to a junior's report.

“Mr. Ji has gone into seclusion?”

“Yes, and we don't know when he'll emerge. He had promised to discuss the Dao of artifact refining with Grandmaster.”

Jiang Xueling looked thoughtful.

“No matter, there will always be an opportunity.”

Ji Yuan's seclusion was, of course, not as many outsiders had speculated. There was no grand work nor profound meditation. He simply laid out his scholarly tools in his lodging, took out the long-dormant scroll for the 'Universe in the Sleeve' technique, and began meticulously deducing, refining the insights he had gained from his spiritual journey, using his customary method of 'derivatory writing'.

During this session of derivatory writing, Ji Yuan's pen flowed like water, writing swiftly and continuously. As he wrote, some previously blank crucial spots subtly began to glow with golden light, evolving into golden characters in conjunction with the surrounding text. Ji Yuan, however, paid no mind to these phenomena; sometimes he would close his eyes, sometimes squint, but his hand never stopped.

“The so-called technique of 'devouring and spitting out the universe' must naturally be inescapable. When the sleeve unfurls, the sky darkens; when the magic appears, the earth dims. It's not that the sun and moon lose their light, but rather that all their brilliance is subsumed...”

At this moment, Ji Yuan wrote as if divinely inspired. This 'divine inspiration' was not from a god of the divine path, but rather from the interaction between his primordial spirit and the various spiritual forces within his body.

The Golden Armor remained standing in the courtyard. The little paper crane and a group of small characters quietly gathered around the desk, watching with great seriousness.

Over two months passed. Lian Baiping opened his courtyard gate and looked towards Ji Yuan's courtyard. The faint scent of ink was now even more pronounced. Though he felt a longing, he refrained from disturbing Ji Yuan. Instead, he began to perform calculations, not for Ji Yuan, but for Yunzhou, which they had already left behind.

Many areas in the southern reaches of Yunzhou were already experiencing heavy snowfall. Meanwhile, in a town on the coast of the East Sea, in the distant former land of Zuyue, a well-groomed, elegantly dressed man in his early twenties was carrying a shoulder pole and heading towards the market.

The market was bustling with life, crowded not only with common folk but also with soldiers of the Great Zhen. The local people showed no fear of them; in fact, they seemed eager to sell their goods to them.

The man set down his baskets and immediately began to loudly hawk his wares.

“Come, come, Great Zhen officers, take a look! I have many fine household items perfect to take back to Great Zhen, and the prices are absolutely fair!”

“Come on, everyone, come take a look! Everything here is good stuff!”

The man shouted, but most people only glanced at him, and few gathered around. After a moment's thought, he simply emptied one of his baskets.

After a clattering sound, the man inverted the emptied basket, quickly arranged the items on the ground, and then carefully took out a scroll from the other basket. He unrolled it and placed it on top of the inverted basket.

“Come and see, everyone! Jade carvings, jade hairpins, high-quality calligraphy and paintings, and an 'Auspicious' character that has been blessed!”

After arranging things more properly, people finally started to come over and look. The character "福" (Fú - Auspicious/Fortune) on the basket was particularly eye-catching, looking pleasant and comfortable. An old farmer carrying vegetables was the first to ask about its price.

“How much are your goods?”

“Ah, the prices are fair!”

“This 'Fú' character is nice, well-written. How much is it?”

When someone asked for the price, the man's immediate asking price startled the inquirer.

“My father told me this character was gifted by a master. Our family has a tradition to pass it down. If it weren't for my itchy hands... *cough*, anyway, the fixed price is ten taels of gold!”

“What? Ten taels of gold for a mere character? You might as well just rob someone!”

“Yeah, that price is outrageous.”

“What's worth ten taels of gold?” “A mere character.”

“Let me see.” “Where is it?” “There!”

The mention of "ten taels of gold" clearly had an effect, drawing many people to gather and look. The vendor was secretly pleased; he never expected anyone to actually buy the character for ten taels of gold – that would be foolish. He simply wanted to attract attention.

“Well then, haggle! Isn't bargaining part of buying and selling? I'm telling you, this character was truly blessed by a master. It used to hang on our front door. I saw it often as a child, and for over a decade, it remained brand new, the ink never fading. Later, when we moved to this large residence, the elders carefully preserved it. And now, after all these years, look—the ink is still as fresh as new!”

“Hey, young man, isn't this just freshly written?”

“Exactly, don't think we're easily fooled!” “Yeah, how can a character more than twenty years old look this new?!”

As the people nearby jeered and laughed, a Great Zhen military officer named Chen, standing some distance away, heard the commotion and felt a stir in his heart. He instinctively touched his chest, where a family letter lay.

*'Is someone actually selling a 'Fú' character?'*

“Come on, let's go take a look.” “Alright, let's join the fun!”

At the officer's suggestion, several soldiers nearby also walked over. The vendor, meanwhile, was still arguing his point.

“Don't disbelieve me! This character truly is that miraculous. And with the New Year approaching, having a 'Fú' character at home brings good fortune and wards off evil spirits...”

Noticing soldiers approaching, the man raised his voice a few notches.

“Everyone, our lives are much more peaceful now, and there will be many changes to come. This signifies fortune has arrived, doesn't this character fit the occasion perfectly!”

“We can just find a scholar to write one for us.” “Exactly.”

“That's different! This character is a treasure, older than I am!”

Officer Chen was now closer. The first time he saw the "Fú" character on the basket, he inexplicably felt as if it was emitting a faint glow. He closed his eyes and opened them again, and the light was gone, yet the sensation had been incredibly real.

“How much is this character?”

“Hahahaha, officer, this man has gone mad with greed, asking for ten taels of gold!” “That's right, gold, not silver!”

“Ten taels? That expensive?”

Officer Chen asked in surprise, and the man smiled awkwardly.

“Officer, buying and selling is all about bargaining, isn't it? But this character, it truly is good. If you want it, uh, eight taels of gold will do. Even without a signature, this character is definitely the work of a master!”

Officer Chen almost instinctively opened his mouth to agree, but then, remembering the letter's contents, he suppressed the impulse and sincerely told the man:

“You, you should take this character back home. Do your family members know you're selling this 'Fú' character? If you say it's a treasure, why are you selling it?”

“Officer... uh, you see... I'm just running a small business... If you all don't fancy this character, then perhaps buy something else.”

The man stammered for a moment, then started selling the other items on his stall. After all, he had attracted quite a few customers.

And indeed, many of the items he had simply brought in two small baskets and casually displayed on the ground were surprisingly exquisite, not common goods. The prices for these other items were also reasonable, and sales at the stall began to pick up.